Audio road signal



Dec. 18, 1956 E. s. KIRK 2,774,323

AUDIO ROAD SIGNAL FiledMay 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 q f1 I /5 /4? 11Fig l INVENTOR.

Dec. 18, 1956 E. s. KIRK 2,774,323

AUDIO ROAD SIGNAL Filed May 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIII'IIIIIIIIIWJW IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent AUDIO ROAD SIGNAL Everett S. Kirk, Lima, OhioApplication May 18, 1955, Serial No. 509,139

6 Claims. (Cl. 116-63) Thisinvention relates to signals. 7

An object of this invention is to provide a device for imparting anaudio warning signal to the occupant of a vehicle moving along ahighway.

Another object of this invention is to provide an installationalong theapproach to a dangerous or hazardous location which will automaticallyimpart a warning signal to the occupant of a vehicle moving along theapproach.

Another object of this invention is to provide a convincing audio signalto occupants of vehicles approaching hazardous locations.

And another object of this invention is to provide an audio signal ofthe type described wherein the active elements may readily be replaced.

Other objects and advantages of this invention relating to thearrangement, operation and functions of'the related elements of thestructure, to various details of construction, to combination of partsand to economies of manufacture, will be apparent to those skilled inthe art upon consideration of the following description and appendedclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification whereinilike reference characters designatecorresponding puts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a highway section incorporating aninstallation of a signal device of the type herein disclosed;

Fig. 2 is a view on the line II-II, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the finger or striker elements ofthe apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fragmentary section of the base plate;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a modified manner ofassembly for the parts;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of a finger or striker element;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a section of a signal deviceincorporating strikers of the type shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view on the line VIIIVIII, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the method of mounting oneof the strikers on to the base plate.

It is a wellknown fact that signal lights placed adjacent the approachof a hazardous condition on the highway are not always eit'ective, dueto inattention, weather, or even drowsiness of a vehicle operator. It isalso an accepted fact that drivers of vehicles, when approachingintersections, repair sections or other hazardous locations, must bewarned in ample time to collect their wits for a safe conduit throughthe hazardous areas. This is not only for the protection of the driver,and possibly other occupants of his vehicle, but for the safety of othervehicles which might be simultaneously operating within the same area.To this end there is herein described a device which is placed in thenormal path of a vehicle approaching a hazardous location, and whichwill be "ice 2 struck by the vehicle in its approach thereto, whichdevice in turn will impart a distinctive and convincing racket or noisewithin the vehicle as a warning to the operator. The device is sodesigned as to operate on all vehicles asno attachment to the vehicle isneeded.

A typical installation is herein shown (Fig. 1), where in a channelmember 10 is provided with opposing flanges 12 and connecting web 14,and has the flanges 12 embedded in a highway 16 so that the web 14 isdisposed longitudinally along the normal path of a vehicle 18 travelingsuch highway.

The web 14 is provided with a series of spaced seats 20 therealong. Ineach seat 20 there is disposed a striker element having a base portion22, from which an integral finger 24 extends upwardly therefrom. Thebase 22 is dimensioned to snugly fit within a seat 20 and may be lockedtherein as by having tongue 26 fixed to the channel 10 extending into aseat 28 formed in the base 22 of the striker element. The fingers orstriker portion 24 are of a length to extend upwardly from the highway16 to a height sufficiently to be struck by the vehicle 18 passingthereover. Such striker element may engage the bumper 30 or any otherportion of the vehicle. The striker elements 24, being placed in aspaced series along the path of the vehicle travel, and beingsuccessively struck by the vehicle, will cause a distinct and convincingracket or noise within the car body. This sound is of such a startlingintensity that the operator of the vehicle will be alerted to the factthat he is approaching a hazardous location.

The striker elements 22, 24 may be constructed in a manner similar tothe carcass of a vehicle tire, including a highly vulcanized rubber bodyimpregnated with a fabric reinforcement or other materials. This durableconstruction will withstand continuous collisions, and should have along life, even on the more busy thoroughfares.

However, it may be necessary from time to time to replace the strikerelements in the base 10, and to this end detents 32 may be formed in theweb 14 of the channel 10, adjacent the seats 20, so that a suitabletoolmay be used to pry the worn striker element from its seat. In someinstances it may be desirable to provide additional locking means forthe striker elements, and to this end the base portions 22 thereof maybe seated in the highway 16 with the upper face of the base portions 22flush with the under side of the web 14, and a separate locking plate 34pressed into the seat 20 (Fig. 5).

The striker elements may assume various forms and various methods ofassembly used to seat them in the base plate 10. To this end a modifiedstriker is herein shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and a method of assembly ofthis form with the base plate is illustrated in Fig. 9. In this modifiedconstruction the web 14 of the base channel is provided with a series ofspaced circular seats 40. The striker elements are molded to provide abulbous body 42 having a circumferential groove 44 thereabout dividingthe body 42 into an upper zone portion 46 and a lower zone portion 48.The striker finger 50 extends upwardly from the upper zone portions 46and is integral therewith. This finger 5t likewise has an extentsuiticiently to be engaged by some part of a vehicle passing thereover.7'

In order to facilitate the mounting of this latter form of strikerelement on to the base plate, the finger 50 is of tubular form having anaxial passageway 52 extending longitudinally therethrough and continuingthrough the upper zone portion 46 of the body 42 and partially throughthe lower zone portion 48. This construction permits the insertion of arod 54 as part of a mounting tool 56. The rod 54 extending in thepassageway 52 may 48 asthis lower zone portion is positioned adjacentone of the circular seats 40. The tool 56 is pressed thereagainst andthe lower zone portion'48 will be distorted and forced through the seat40, and having passed through the seat 40 the pressure on the tool 56 isreleased and the lower zone portion 48 will assume its normal shape andthereby lock this latter described striker element to the base plate ina grommet-like'fashion. t ,7

' These striker elements may be molded from rubber or other-likematerial which is sufficiently strong to Withstand the continuousstriking action from vehicles passing thereover, and yet be flexibleenough so that the vehicles will not be marred or otherwise damaged. Thenumber of striker elementsemployed inone signal may vary to meetpredetermined requirements for intensity of the signal to be imparted tothe vehicle. This intensity may also be regulated as by rotating thestriker elements relatively to their mounting 'so that rectangularcross-sectional str'iker shapes may receive the vehicle contact facewiseor edge-wise.

be pressed against the'interior of the lower zone Portion 2. Thestructure set forth in claim 1 wherein said body comprises a bulbularsection having a circumferential groove thereabout and a tubularextension therefrom 3. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein saidbody comprises a bulbular section having a circumferential groovethereabout dividing said body. into an upper zone zone, said extensionhaving its axial clearway continuing and a lower zone, and a tubularextension from said upper through the upper zone and partially throughthe lower zone. t

4. in a device for imparting an audio signalito the occupant of avehicle moving along a highway, a'channelmember provided with flangesand a connecting iweb, said channel havingits'flanges embeddedlongitudinally in said highway, a series of spaced seats along said web,

flexible elements embodying base portions in said seats, 1

I said base portions having fingers upwardly extending It is to beunderstood that the above description of t the present invention isintended to disclose an embodi ment thereof to those skilled in the art,but thatthe invention is not to be construed as limited in itsapplication to, the details of construction and arrangement of parts.

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capableof being practiced and carried out in various ways without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. The language used in-the specificationrelating to the operation and function of the elements of the inventionis employed for purposes of description and not element longitudinallyextending along and aflixed to the highway, saidbase element providedwith a series of seats therealong, a compressible body interlocked in'each seat and an integral flexible finger upwardly extending from saidbody. 1

therefrom to a height suflicienttto be struck by the vehicle portions insaid seats. I t

5. In 'a device for imparting an audio signal to the passing thereover,and'means for snap locking's'aid base occupant'ofa vehicle movingalong'a highway, achannel memberprovided withvfianges and a connectingwc b, saidchannel having its flanges embedded longitudinally in saidhighway, a series'of s'pacedseats along said web,

flexible,elements'embodying base portions to be inserted into saidseats, said base portionsthaving fingers upwardly extending therefrom,thebase portions and fingers em-' bodyin'g a rubber-like body, theflexible elements include ing a base portion to register with said webseats, and withsaid fingersextending therefrom to a height sufiicienttobe struck by a vehicle passing thereover, and means for locking saidbase portions in said seats. i

6, The'structure set forth in'claim 5 wherein the rub- V her-like bodyisj reinforced with fabric.

References lited in the file of this-patent V UNITED STATES'PATENTS1,518, 16 Varnell Dec. 9, 1924' 1,833,124 Rand Nov. 24, 1931 Gill June28,1938

